Wednesday, May 5, 2010

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This was intended to be a competition burger but our travel plans assure that, even if chosen, we'll be no where near the Napa Valley when the Build a Better Burger cook-off is held. A person younger than myself might decide to save the recipe for another year, but I've reached an age where that doesn't make a lot of sense, and I'd rather share it with you now than see it sit in limbo for another year. This is really easy to do. While the relish is best made several hours before assembling the burgers, their actual construction takes minutes and uses ingredients that can be found in any large grocery store. While the burgers look all-American , they are really Thai-inspired and capture the hot, sweet, sour and salty tastes that are the hallmark of Thai cooking. I have fudged a bit here and have used a range of measures for the green curry paste that's used to flavor the sauce and add heat to the burgers. Commercially made curry paste tends to be very hot and can kill the taste buds very quickly. If you are not familiar with it, start with the smaller amount and taste carefully as you go along. The goal here is a warming heat, not fire. The burgers can be cooked stovetop or on a grill. They should be turned only once. They are moist burgers and will fall part if you play with them too much. I usually serve these on a brioche-type roll, but any bread with a soft crust can be used. I think you'll like these burgers. Here's the recipe.

Directions:1) Combine vinegar, water, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium sauce pan and cook, stirring occasionally, over moderate heat until sugar dissolves, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.2) Combine cucumbers, onions and chiles in a small bowl. Cover with cooled dressing and chill for several hours.3) Combine mayonnaise, green curry paste and reserved 1 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Mix well. Remove 1/4 cup of sauce to another small bowl and stir 1/2 cup drained cucumber relish into it. 4) Add relish mixture to ground turkey and mix just until combined. Shape into 4 patties. In a large nonstick skillet set over medium-high heat, cook patties for 4 minutes on each side. Spread reserved mayonnaise mixture on top and bottom of warm rolls. Place a pattie on bottom half of each roll and cover with relish and sprigs of cilantro. Set roll tops in place and serve. Yield: 4 servings.

55 comments
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I'm with you, Mary, about not waiting for the "proper" time to put up a post. I have not one but two cassoulets lounging in my drafts folder because I didn't get to them in the middle of winter and now here it is, spring. It's just silly not to post them.All that aside, your burger looks superbly delicious, and I can't wait to make that relish. Happy travels!

What a splendid burger Mary and a fabulous idea for me! I just bought some green curry in a sauce jar and thought I would use it with tofu, which does not excite me as much as this burger! Thanks so much!

This sounds wonderful!! I realize now, that I over cook our turkey burgers....I was always afraid of them not being "done". I will try this terrific recipe of yours.... I'm so glad you decided to share it now and not save the recipe for "another year"!!

Congrats on having your photo featured in Artful Blogging. Your blog is so great...you deserve the honor!! dana

Wonderful spicing Mary... you surely would have won!! It reminds me of a fish burger of long ago... and I was crazy about the spicing... I think you've hit the nail on the head... the cucumber is perfect too... yum!

We have a favorite restaurant here, Five Star Thai. The owners have become dear friends. In our circle of friends, they are sometimes teased about not having a hamburger on the menu. If they ever decided to go that route (which I'm sure they won't), this would be the "burger". It will, however, find a place on our menu soon.

I'm always looking for new ways to dress up turkey burgers because I love them more so than beef ones. This version sounds great. Even if you don't enter it in any contest, it definitely sounds like a winner in my book.

I am sure these burgers would have been among the top contenders at the contest! What a unique flavor combination. I love infusing turkey burgers with spices and such...they are almost like sponges and showcase most things very nicely. Love this idea!

Thanks for stopping by The Bad Girl's Kitchen and commenting! Glad you enjoyed your visit, and a timely one at that--I was just wondering what to make for dinner when I noticed your comment and visited you. And here are these scrumptious burgers. I will be making them tonight!!! Can't wait.

That is a gorgeous view! I have never been to Oregon but now I am dying to go. Being constantly surrounded by huge buildings makes a person forget what real nature looks like. I miss the outdoors. Thank you for posting it:)

I participate in that contest every year: it is so much fun to experiment with recipes for it. My husband and I spend hours talking about flavor combinations :)Thanks for sharing your recipe: sounds really tantalizing!Amelia from www.ztastylife.com

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